Up-and-Humming: Samo’s A Cappella group

Imagine a dozen girls crowded in a choir room, tapping their fingers on a single piano, their voices filling the air as they harmonize to “Row Your Boat." This was the aspiring group of singers only a few weeks ago as they prepared to audition for Valhalla, Samo’s only girls’ a cappella group on campus.

The diverse group of students clustered around the piano was composed of many under and upperclassmen who were not Valhalla members in previous years.  Although the a cappella group has been around since before music director Jeffe Huls started teaching at Samo in 2004, Valhalla is rejuvenating its sound and ambition this year as it promotes itself as "the coolest group. Period."“It’s really cool that [Valhalla is] all student run and it's focused on all pop music,” Bailey Cass (’16) said. “You're committed to being here every week but it's not like you have to spend all your time here either.”Although Cass said that the group is welcoming to anyone who wants to join, she said that the 15-second blind audition to get in was difficult and nerve-wracking. Those few seconds, as Valhalla Co-Vice President Tatiana Bedi (’14) said, were crucial.  The bar was set high for those wanting one of the new spots, because the group consists of only 26 girls this year, each of whom has to pull her own weight and be an active participant.“They have to be able to carry their own part musically,” Bedi said. “They have to be able to read their own music, have a good blend with other girls and they have to have a strong voice.”Auditions were held on Sept. 3, 4 and 6, callbacks were on Sept. 9 and the the finalized list of girls was revealed on Sept.11. Those who were accepted to the group are as follows: Cass, Sophie Schwarz (’16), Romie Drori (’16), Emma Brown (’17), Sara Reynolds (’14), Sophie Thomason (’14), Abby Zakharin(’14), Hana Chwe (’14), Katie Kinsinger (’17) and Lily Finali (’17).  Along with the new additions, anyone who was previously in the group was guaranteed a spot this year.According to Annie Quine ('15), who has been in Valhalla since freshman year, one of the perks of continuing to be in Valhalla is that singers with more experience help less experienced singers improve and build up their vocal skills.“By being able to sing with seniors and [by] being led, you just really learn how to blend with people,” Quine said.  “If there are juniors and seniors around you’re learning how they sound and morphing to their sound which is in return maturing your own.”Returning for her second year as a leader of the group, Valhalla President Quinn D’Andrea (’14) said she is looking forward to what’s ahead.“We’re looking to build a bigger repertoire of music than last year,” D’Andrea said.  "We want to be bigger than last year, when we only did two songs."In past years, Valhalla’s repertoire ranged from Radiohead to Sara Bareilles, but this year D’Andrea is choosing to perform music by up-and-coming singer Lorde in order to expand the group's horizons to potential success.  In addition to expanding Valhalla's set, D'Andrea and Co-Vice President Kate Crellin (’15) agree that more publicity and coverage is needed in the 2013-2014 year.“Valhalla is well known within the choir program and we had a large turnout for auditions, but we really want outside exposure,” Crellin said. "A cappella is such a cool art and people should know that Samo has an a capella group."Despite the group's obscurity, the expanded a cappella group is going to make a name for itself, according to Thomason.“Valhalla’s full of really talented singers and should have a great sound this year,” Thomason said. "I'm excited to start working on 'Royals,' which will be our first song, and I can't wait to hear other arrangements throughout the year."As Quine said, everyone wants to learn from their peers, come in once a week at lunch and make the commitment to singing together.  Quine agrees that even though the group will work hard throughout the year, they will still focus on the fun aspect of being in a girls-only a cappella group.“There is a sense of relief that you're with people that you belong with and that you've earned it,” Quine said.  “We all have a desire to learn you can tell, we  have fun but we can center in and go in and work really hard.” 

ekohut@thesamohi.com